Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Director of Strategy and Resources, (copy enclosed).

The Council considered the report of the Director of Strategy and Resources seeking appointment of Members to vacant Committee positions for the remainder of the municipal year.

It was noted that at the Council meeting on 8 June 2023 appointment of a non-aligned Member to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee along with District Councillors to the Joint Standards Committee (JSC) had been deferred.  The reasons for these deferrals were outlined in the report.  In respect of the JSC and the Council decision on 23 June 2020 regarding the political make-up of this Committee, the report outlined further guidance received from the Monitoring Officer that this decision stood only for that particular municipal year. 

Appendix A to the report outlined the expected political allocation of seats for the JSC and Appointments Board and it was noted that nominations for the Appointments Board remaining two seats would be required.  A change to the Licensing Committee membership was also proposed following the resignation of Councillor J Driver.

The Director of Strategy of Resources advised that following the earlier Motion agreed, recommendation (ii) was deferred.  In respect of recommendation (iii) he suggested that the three Opposition Leaders be allocated the remaining seats on the Appointments Board which would then equate to a politically balanced Board.

In response to a question from Councillor J C Stilts about giving up her seat (as an Opposition Leader) and nominating another Member, the Monitoring Officer clarified that this was not possible as the seats were assigned on their designations and the Board had to be politically balanced. 

In response to further comments regarding membership of the Appointments Board the Monitoring Officer referred Members to Procedure Rule 15 and advised that should the Opposition Leader be unable / didn’t want to sit on the Board then their deputy would sit in their place.  He then went on to provide further guidance regarding the Constitution.

The Chairman moved to recommendation (i) and sought nomination of a non-aligned Member to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.  Leader of the Council nominated Councillor U C G Siddall-Norman and this was duly agreed by the Council.

The Chairman then put recommendation (iii) to the Council, amended to read that “…three Opposition Leaders’ are appointed to the Appointments Board…’.  This was duly agreed along with recommendation (iv).

RESOLVED

(i)             That Councillor U C G Siddall-Norman be appointed to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the municipal year 2023 / 23;

(ii)            That the three Opposition Leaders be appointed to Appointments Board, for the Municipal Year 2023 / 24 and the Appointments Board membership be confirmed as follows;

Leader of the Council (Councillor R H Siddall)*

Leaders of the Opposition (Councillors J Driver, S J N Morgan and J C Stilts)*

*or their deputies

Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson of the Strategy & Resources and Performance, Governance and Audit Committees

(iii)           That Councillor N J Swindle is appointed to the vacant Liberal Democrat seat on the Licensing Committee for the Municipal Year 2023 / 24.